What is a fleece blanket? They are a lightweight and ultra-soft fabric, which makes a great choice that's suitable for most blanket situations. When fleece blankets get dirty, the fibers might stick together or trap dust and become knotted. It is recommended that you clean your fleece blankets once per month at least. If the fleece blanket is not washed correctly, it could also result in the fibers becoming stiff. To avoid that, follow these simple steps to ensure and maintain the soft texture and touch. There are also some tips on how to maintain a soft blanket every time.
How to Machine-Wash a Fleece Blanket
Machine wash is always the most convenient method to wash blankets. Refer to the product care label on how to wash a fleece blanket before tossing your blanket into the water. Here are a few things to keep in mind when washing fleece blankets.
- Select the correct washer cycle
Select a gentle cleaning cycle
Avoid hot water, use lukewarm or cold cycles instead
- Use detergent
Try to use gentle or mild detergents
Steer clear of fabric softeners
- Dry the blanket
It's best to let the blanket air dry outdoors or indoor where it can be fully spread out
If dryers must be used, dry the blanket separately and keep it low-heat
How to Hand-Wash a Fleece Blanket
Hand washing follows similar principles to machine wash. It could be hard to hand wash a blanket due to the size so if the care label doesn't indicate hand wash only, you can opt for machine washing. This fleece throw blanket from TheHues is machine-wash safe.
If hand washing is required, here are the steps to follow:
- Use a large bucket or the sink
Fill with lukewarm or cold water
Add a few drops of mild detergent
- Submerge and soak the blanket
Soak for up to 30 minutes or depending on the condition of the blankets
- Rinse well with running water
Make sure all soap is rinsed out to ensure a soft blanket
- Drying
Preferably air dry
Dryer on low heat setting
Tips on keeping fleece soft
Sometimes when we buy fluffy fleece throw blankets, they become stiff over time, and especially if not washed properly the fiber strands could harden easily. How to clean fleece blankets and keep them soft? You only need to be careful about a few things when washing the fleece blanket.
Tips on how to keep fleece soft:
- Use a small amount of detergent
Too much soap is not necessarily going to make the blanket cleaner, could cause the contrary.
If the blanket isn't rinsed thoroughly it could cause the strands to harden to stick together, making the blanket less soft.
- Dry blanket on low heat
High heat could fry the fiber and make it tough
Try adding some dryer balls to keep the fleece fluffy and soft in the dryer
- Avoid washing together with cotton or towels
They could cause the fleece blanket to catch extra lint and fluff
- Do not iron
- No bleach or fabric softeners
- The chemicals would damage the fleece fibers causing them to harden
Additional Tips
Treat stains, caring, how to keep the blankets clean. etc. You can focus on using the spruce as reference. Use the others as mixture.
- Pre-treat stains with stain removers for a more effective result
- Keep blankets clean regularly with a lint roller or brush it with a soft bristle brush
- Front-loading washers are better since there's less friction from the center agitator